Why were the tombs of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin and Empress Changsun built together on the mountain?
Li Shimin, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, personally selected the Zhaoling Cemetery located in Jiujun Mountain in the early years of Zhenguan, and it took 13 years to build the cemetery. In the tenth year of Zhenguan (AD 636), Taizong's Empress Wende Changsun passed away and was buried here for the first time in November in winter. Thirteen years later, in the 23rd year of Zhenguan, Taizong died. In August of that year, he was buried together with Emperor Wende. The tomb was sealed and the mausoleum project was subsequently completed.
Tang Zhaoling is the joint tomb of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin and Empress Changsun. It is the largest of the 18 Tang tombs in Guanzhong. Now, when people stand in front of Zhaoling, they can see the "Six Horses of Zhaoling" in the verandah. These six horses are the six war horses that Li Shimin often rides, symbolizing the illustrious martial arts of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, royal mausoleums have generally been filled with earth, or the mountains have been hollowed out and mausoleums built inside the mountains. However, the Tang Zhaoling Mausoleum is different. It was built against the mountains, creating the architectural style of the imperial tombs of the Tang Dynasty. So why did Li Shimin make such a choice?
Historical data records that in the tenth year of Emperor Taizong's reign, Emperor Taizong's empress, Changsun, was critically ill. When she was dying, she told Emperor Taizong about his future affairs: "Don't pay too much for your death now. And those who are buried should be hidden." , I want people not to see you. Since ancient times, all sages have admired frugality, but in the unethical world, they have built mountains and tombs, and they have worked hard for the world, but they are buried in the mountains. There is no need to raise a grave, and there is no need to use a coffin. The utensils and clothes were all made of wood and tiles, and the concubine was not forgotten. "Taizong of the Tang Dynasty followed the last wishes of Empress Changsun and temporarily placed her in a newly dug grotto in Jiuwei Mountain. The mausoleum was named Zhaoling. . He also decided to make Zhaoling his final destination, and he would be buried with the queen after his death.
Judging from these records, the idea of "burying in the mountains" was proposed by Empress Changsun. Because Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty loved his empress deeply, he built his own mausoleum here to share with Changsun. They were buried together. But Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once said this: "The queen was frugal and buried her last words sparsely, thinking that 'the heart of a thief is limited to seeking treasures. If there are no treasures, what else can I ask for?' This is also my original intention. The king said that The world is our home, why should things be in the mausoleum? It is already there. Now because Jiuwei Mountain is the mausoleum, there are only a hundred people working on it. The descendants take this as the law. "The "my original intention" mentioned here actually refers to the decision and choice of "because the mountain is a mausoleum" and the choice of Jiuwei Mountain as the mausoleum for him and the queen. Determined.
We don’t know who came up with the idea that Tang Zhaoling was “built on the mountain”. But one thing is certain, Queen Changsun's thoughts must have had an important influence on Tang Taizong's choice. Moreover, the Zhaoling Mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty is backed by mountains, surrounded by water behind the mountains, and in front of it is a flat river, which is bright and open, implying peace in the world. Its Feng Shui is the best among all imperial mausoleums in China.